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{{about|Jackson Browne album|other uses|Pretender (disambiguation)#Music}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
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''The Pretender'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in 1978, but did not win.
''The Pretender'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] in 1978, but did not win.

''[[Record World]]'' said that "Browne's tender concerns are as insightfully expressed as has become the norm, [[Jon Landau]]'s production adding a subtle broadening of the rock base" and said that "'The Fuse,' '[[The Pretender (Jackson Browne song)|The Pretender]],' 'Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate' and 'The Only Child' are particularly moving and beautifully arranged."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=November 20, 1976|page=1|accessdate=2023-03-03|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/Record-World-1976-11-20.pdf}}</ref>


In his review for [[AllMusic]], William Ruhlmann was equivocal about the album, stating Browne "took a step back from the precipice so well defined on his first three albums, but doing so didn't seem to make him feel any better... The man who had delved so deeply into life's abyss on his earlier albums was in search of escape this time around."<ref name="AM" />
In his review for [[AllMusic]], William Ruhlmann was equivocal about the album, stating Browne "took a step back from the precipice so well defined on his first three albums, but doing so didn't seem to make him feel any better... The man who had delved so deeply into life's abyss on his earlier albums was in search of escape this time around."<ref name="AM" />


In ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'', Marc Coleman wrote, "...even when his songwriting is sharp, the mellowing trend in his music dulls the impact. Browne eerily predicts the rise of the yuppie on ''The Pretender''{{'}}s title track, only to have his point undercut by a creeping string section."<ref name="RS" /> Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album a B grade, but explained, "This is an impressive record, but a lot of the time I hate it; my grade is an average, not a judgment" and "The shallowness of his kitschy [[doomsday cult|doomsaying]] and sentimental sexism is well-known, but I'm disappointed as well in his depth of craft."<ref name="RC">{{cite web |last=Christgau |first= Robert |title=''The Pretender'' > Review |publisher= robertchristgau.com | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=jackson+browne |access-date=June 4, 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the album was ranked number 391 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/zz-top-eliminator-67102/ | title= 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]| date= May 31, 2012| access-date= August 6, 2019}}</ref> ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'' says, "Its sense of despair is derived in part from the suicide of his first wife, Phyllis, in 1976, two and a half years after the birth of their son, Ethan." The single "[[Here Come Those Tears Again]]" was credited as co-written with Nancy Farnsworth, Phyllis Major's mother.
In ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'', Marc Coleman wrote, "...even when his songwriting is sharp, the mellowing trend in his music dulls the impact. Browne eerily predicts the rise of the yuppie on ''The Pretender''{{'}}s title track, only to have his point undercut by a creeping string section."<ref name="RS" /> Music critic [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album a B grade, but explained, "This is an impressive record, but a lot of the time I hate it; my grade is an average, not a judgment" and "The shallowness of his kitschy [[doomsday cult|doomsaying]] and sentimental sexism is well-known, but I'm disappointed as well in his depth of craft."<ref name="RC">{{cite web |last=Christgau |first= Robert |title=''The Pretender'' > Review |publisher= robertchristgau.com | url = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=jackson+browne |access-date=June 4, 2010}}</ref> In 2012, the album was ranked number 391 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/zz-top-eliminator-67102/ | title= 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]| date= May 31, 2012| access-date= August 6, 2019}}</ref> ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'' says, "Its sense of despair is derived in part from the suicide of his first wife, Phyllis, in 1976, two and a half years after the birth of their son, Ethan." The single "[[Here Come Those Tears Again]]" was credited as co-written with Nancy Farnsworth, Phyllis Major's mother.

''Classic Rock History'' critic Brian Kachejian rated three songs from the album as being among Browne's ten greatest songs – "The Fuse", "Here Come Those Tears Again" and the title track – and said that "just about every song from the album could have made this list."<ref>{{cite web|title=Top 10 Jackson Browne Songs|publisher=Classic Rock History|author=Kachejian, Brian|accessdate=2023-12-28|url=https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-10-jackson-browne-songs/}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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== Personnel ==
== Personnel ==
* [[Jackson Browne]] – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 2)
* [[Jackson Browne]] – vocals, acoustic guitar (1, 2)
⚫
* [[Leland Sklar]] – bass (1, 6, 7, 8)
⚫
* [[Chuck Rainey]] – bass (2, 5)
⚫
* [[Russ Kunkel]] – drums (1)
⚫
* [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]] – drums (2, 4)
⚫
* [[Jeff Porcaro]] – drums (5–8)
* [[Craig Doerge]] – acoustic piano (1, 6, 7, 8)
* [[Craig Doerge]] – acoustic piano (1, 6, 7, 8)
* [[Roy Bittan]] – acoustic piano (2)
* [[Roy Bittan]] – acoustic piano (2)
* [[Bill Payne]] – [[Hammond organ]] (2), acoustic piano (4, 5)
* [[Bill Payne]] – [[Hammond organ]] (2), acoustic piano (4, 5)
⚫
* [[Michael Utley]] – Hammond organ (4)
* [[David Lindley (musician)|David Lindley]] – [[slide guitar]] (1, 6), violin (5)
* [[David Lindley (musician)|David Lindley]] – [[slide guitar]] (1, 6), violin (5)
* [[Lowell George]] – slide guitar (2), harmony vocals (2)
* [[Lowell George]] – slide guitar (2), harmony vocals (2)
⚫
* Arthur Gerst – [[harp]] (3), backing vocals (3), musical arrangements (3)
* Roberto Gutierrez – [[Guitarrón mexicano|guitarrón]] (3), violin (3), backing vocals (3)
* Roberto Gutierrez – [[Guitarrón mexicano|guitarrón]] (3), violin (3), backing vocals (3)
* Luis Damian – acoustic guitar (3), backing vocals (3)
* Luis Damian – acoustic guitar (3), backing vocals (3)
⚫
* [[Michael Utley]] – Hammond organ (4)
* [[John Hall (New York politician)|John Hall]] – guitar solo (4)
* [[Fred Tackett]] – acoustic guitar (4, 5, 7, 8), electric guitar (4, 7, 8), guitar left (6)
* [[Fred Tackett]] – acoustic guitar (4, 5, 7, 8), electric guitar (4, 7, 8), guitar left (6)
* [[John Hall (New York politician)|John Hall]] – guitar solo (4)
* [[Bob Glaub]] – bass (4)
* [[Albert Lee]] – electric guitar (5)
* [[Albert Lee]] – electric guitar (5)
* [[Waddy Wachtel]] – guitar right (6)
* [[Waddy Wachtel]] – guitar right (6)
* [[Leland Sklar]] – bass (1, 6, 7)
* [[Jim Horn]] – saxophone (6), horn arrangements (6)
⚫
* [[Chuck Rainey]] – bass (2, 5)
⚫
* [[Bob Glaub]] – bass (4, 8)
⚫
* [[Russ Kunkel]] – drums (1)
⚫
* [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]] – drums (2, 4)
⚫
* [[Jeff Porcaro]] – drums (5–8)
* Gary Coleman – percussion (5)
⚫
* Arthur Gerst – [[harp]] (3), backing vocals (3), musical arrangements (3)
* Quitman Dennis – saxophone (6)
* Quitman Dennis – saxophone (6)
* [[Jim Horn]] – saxophone (6), horn arrangements (6)
* [[Dick Hyde (musician)|Dick Hyde]] – trombone (6)
* [[Dick Hyde (musician)|Dick Hyde]] – trombone (6)
* [[Chuck Findley]] – trumpet (6)
* [[Chuck Findley]] – trumpet (6)
* [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] – string arrangements (7, 8)
* [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] – string arrangements (7, 8)
* [[Rosemary Butler]] – harmony vocals (4)
harmony vocals:
* [[Rosemary Butler (singer)|Rosemary Butler]] (4), [[Bonnie Raitt]] (4)
* [[Bonnie Raitt]] – harmony vocals (4)
* [[Don Henley]] – harmony vocals (5)
* [[Don Henley]] (5), [[JD Souther]] (5)
* [[J. D. Souther]] – harmony vocals (5)
* [[David Crosby]] (8), [[Graham Nash]] (8)
* [[David Crosby]] – harmony vocals (8)
* [[Graham Nash]] – harmony vocals (8)


== Production ==
== Production ==
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* Front cover photo – Tom Kelley
* Front cover photo – Tom Kelley
* Other photography – Howard Burke, Peter Golden and Tony Lane.
* Other photography – Howard Burke, Peter Golden and Tony Lane.
* Liner notes – Pablo Neruda and Kenneth Rexroth
* Liner notes – [[Pablo Neruda]] and [[Kenneth Rexroth]]


==Charts==
==Charts==
Line 146: Line 148:


===Certifications===
===Certifications===
{{certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Jackson Browne|title=The Pretender|award=Silver|certyear=1978|relyear=1976}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Jackson Browne|title=The Pretender|award=Silver|certyear=1978|relyear=1976|id=7227-2521-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Jackson Browne|title=The Pretender|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2006|relyear=1976}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Jackson Browne|title=The Pretender|award=Platinum|number=3|certyear=2006|relyear=1976}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}


Latest revision as of 13:49, 13 September 2024

This article is about Jackson Browne album. For other uses, see Pretender (disambiguation) § Music.

The Pretender
Studio album by
Jackson Browne
ReleasedNovember 1976
Recorded1976
StudioSunset Sound (Hollywood)
GenreRock
Length35:07
LabelAsylum
ProducerJon Landau
Jackson Browne chronology
Late for the Sky
(1974) 		The Pretender
(1976) 		Running on Empty
(1977)

The Pretender is the fourth album by the American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1976. It peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's album chart. The singles from the album were "Here Come Those Tears Again", which reached No. 23, and "The Pretender", which peaked at No. 58.

History

[edit]

The Pretender was released after the suicide of Browne's first wife, Phyllis Major, and one of the album's songs "Here Come Those Tears Again" (co-written by Major's mother Nancy Farnsworth) is dedicated to her. The album has production by Jon Landau and a mixture of styles.

The title track was used in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus.

The album was certified as a gold record in 1976 and platinum in 1977 by the RIAA. It reached multi-platinum in 1997 and 2006.[1]

The back cover of The Pretender shows Pablo Neruda's poem Brown and Agile Child, translated by Kenneth Rexroth, in its entirety.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

The Pretender was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1978, but did not win.

Record World said that "Browne's tender concerns are as insightfully expressed as has become the norm, Jon Landau's production adding a subtle broadening of the rock base" and said that "'The Fuse,' 'The Pretender,' 'Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate' and 'The Only Child' are particularly moving and beautifully arranged."[6]

In his review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann was equivocal about the album, stating Browne "took a step back from the precipice so well defined on his first three albums, but doing so didn't seem to make him feel any better... The man who had delved so deeply into life's abyss on his earlier albums was in search of escape this time around."[2]

In The Rolling Stone Album Guide, Marc Coleman wrote, "...even when his songwriting is sharp, the mellowing trend in his music dulls the impact. Browne eerily predicts the rise of the yuppie on The Pretender's title track, only to have his point undercut by a creeping string section."[4] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a B grade, but explained, "This is an impressive record, but a lot of the time I hate it; my grade is an average, not a judgment" and "The shallowness of his kitschy doomsaying and sentimental sexism is well-known, but I'm disappointed as well in his depth of craft."[7] In 2012, the album was ranked number 391 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[8] The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll says, "Its sense of despair is derived in part from the suicide of his first wife, Phyllis, in 1976, two and a half years after the birth of their son, Ethan." The single "Here Come Those Tears Again" was credited as co-written with Nancy Farnsworth, Phyllis Major's mother.

Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated three songs from the album as being among Browne's ten greatest songs – "The Fuse", "Here Come Those Tears Again" and the title track – and said that "just about every song from the album could have made this list."[9]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Jackson Browne except where noted.

Side 1

  1. "The Fuse" – 5:50
  2. "Your Bright Baby Blues" – 6:05
  3. "Linda Paloma" – 4:06
  4. "Here Come Those Tears Again" (Browne, Nancy Farnsworth) – 3:37

Side 2

  1. "The Only Child" – 3:43
  2. "Daddy's Tune" – 3:35
  3. "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" – 2:37
  4. "The Pretender" – 5:53

Personnel

[edit]

harmony vocals:

Production

[edit]
  • Producer – Jon Landau
  • Engineers – John Haeny (Tracks 1, 2 & 4–8); Greg Ladanyi (Track 3).
  • Additional recording – Mark Howlett
  • Assistant recording – Paul Black
  • Mixing – Greg Ladanyi (Tracks 1–6 & 8); Val Garay (Track 7).
  • Mix assistant – Dennis Kirk (Tracks 1–6 & 8)
  • Mixed at The Sound Factory (Hollywood, CA).
  • Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Mastering Studios (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Management – Mark Hammerman
  • Art direction and design – Gary Burden
  • Back cover photo – Jackson Browne
  • Front cover photo – Tom Kelley
  • Other photography – Howard Burke, Peter Golden and Tony Lane.
  • Liner notes – Pablo Neruda and Kenneth Rexroth

Charts

[edit]

Album – Billboard (United States)

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 5

Singles – Billboard (United States)

Year Single Chart Position
1977 "Here Come Those Tears Again" Pop Singles 23
1977 "The Pretender" Pop Singles 58

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[11] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ RIAA Gold and Platinum award. Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved July 20, 2010
  2. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "The Pretender > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ a b Coleman, Mark (2004). "Jackson Browne". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Fireside Books. ISBN 9780743201698.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  6. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 20, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  7. ^ Christgau, Robert. "The Pretender > Review". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  8. ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Kachejian, Brian. "Top 10 Jackson Browne Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "British album certifications – Jackson Browne – The Pretender". British Phonographic Industry.
  11. ^ "American album certifications – Jackson Browne – The Pretender". Recording Industry Association of America.
[edit]
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